Rugby Travel: Japan 2019

Japan’s defining feature is surely its ability to juxtapose, in the most beautiful way, ancient with modern, tradition with technology, chaos with tranquillity. That juxtaposition continues with its hosting of 2019’s Rugby World Cup™; a country with little rugby heritage holding the world’s biggest tournament. And we couldn’t be more excited.

While Original Travel has no affiliation with the Rugby World
Cup™, meaning we cannot sell tickets, we can arrange the trip of a
lifetime to fit around the match or matches that you have been
lucky enough to secure tickets for.

The tournament takes place from 20 September to 2 November 2019
so in stark contrast to the sea of pale pinks you can admire during
the springtime cherry blossom season, you can expect to see
autumnal red and yellow leaves, known as koyo or momijigari.

The main island of Honshu
is, unsurprisingly, where the majority of the matches will be held,
including the final. Lucky for travellers, Honshu tends to be the
first port of call on any trip to Japan and, if
you're short on time, packs such a punch that it makes for a
fantastic destination in and of itself. Head to Kobe (where matches
will be hosted) to sample its internationally renowned beef and
sake or, of course, the capital city of Tokyo which serves as the
perfect microcosm of Japan as a whole with its towering
skyscrapers, ancient temples, manicured gardens and myriad
Michelin-starred restaurants. That's before we've even mentioned
the likes of Kyoto, Hiroshima and Hakone.

Further afield, cities including Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kumamoto and
Oita will all host matches and we can plan fantastic routes around
all of these. September sees Sapporo's 'Autumn Fest' in full swing
- a food and craft beer festival where artisans from all over the
island of Hokkaido
gather. Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Oita are all on the southerly island
of Kyushu,
the heart of Japan's onsen (hot spring baths) culture, and one of
the best places in the country to stay in a Ryokan inn, complete
with shoji doors, futon beds and traditional Japanese
hospitality.

Wherever you plan to watch matches, we can create a tailor-made
itinerary taking in the best of the surrounding area and Japan as a
whole. Our Japan experts know all the best things to do and places
to visit at this time of year and so are on hand to turn your rugby
adventure into the holiday of a lifetime.

*Original Travel is in no way affiliated with the Rugby World
Cup™ 2019 and we cannot sell match tickets. We can provide expert
knowledge of Japan to create you a tailor-made holiday itinerary
that works around the match or matches you have tickets to.*